Trinity's  Lutheran Church in Fremont, Nebraska ministry partners and handlers are excited to add their second LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Phinehas to serve with LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Katie.  We are blessed to grow this wonderful ministry in our church and community.  We look forward to continue our motto at Trinity, Fremont #LOVEINACTION. Love in action is when we meet the needs of other people in their thirst — physical, emotional, or spiritual — out of love for Christ, who was thirsty for us. Team Phinehas is ready to be a servant leaders, leading as a shepherd, being alongside our people, leading through our conversations.

Phinehas' Bible verse is Numbers 23:19: "God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?"

Trinity's LCC K-9 Comfort Dog team members and Phinehas were commissioned on Sunday, January 15. Team members include: Dawn Gilfry, Jon Gilfry, Brett Meyer, Carly  Gross, Jim Dockerty, Paula  Price, Rick Vogel, Abby Hassett , and Angie Lange.  A "meet and greet" was held before the service. Joining them for this special day were the following LCC K-9 Comfort Dog teams:

LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Eddie (Peace Lutheran - Grand Island, Nebraska)
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Eden (Peace Lutheran - Columbus, Nebraska)
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Joanna (Christ Lincoln - Lincoln, Nebraska)
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Katie (Trinity - Fremont, Nebraska)
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Keren (Immanuel - Ellsworth, Kansas)
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Moses (Christ Lutheran - Cairo, Nebraska)
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Nicodemus (The Rock - Seward, Nebraska)
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Priscilla (Trinity - Lincoln, Nebraska)

It was so so good to see everyone and meet new friends.  What an inspiration to be with servants whose goal is to bring mercy, compassion, presence, and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those who are suffering and in need!

In November 2022, Immanuel Lutheran Church/Martin Luther School in Joplin, Missouri and LCC K-9 Comfort Dog team joined LCC staff for handler training and met their next LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Daniel. Daniel’s Bible verse is Daniel 12:3  “Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever.”  
 
Since returning home from training, the team and Daniel have worked many hours to prepare to go out into the community and share the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ.  The Immanuel Lutheran/Martin Luther School LCC K-9 Comfort Dog team members and Daniel were commissioned on Sunday, January 15, which also happened to be Daniel’s 2nd birthday! 

Team members include:  Heidi Gustin, Jason Glaskey, Sue Doennig, Jennifer Lutz, Jennifer Jankowski, Jeni Hueller, Laurie Behm, Robert Wuerdeman and Becky Wuerdeman.  Joining them for this special day were the following LCC K-9 Comfort Dog teams:
 
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Boaz (Christ The King - Lake Ozark, Missouri)
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Dinah (Trinity - Auburn, Illinois)
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog  Noah (Timothy - St. Louis, Missouri)
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Persis (King of Kings - Glenpool, Oklahoma)
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Thomas (St. Paul’s - Concordia, Missouri)
 
We were very honored to have so many fellow teams present to worship and celebrate with us on this special day.  It was a day filled with joy and excitement for God’s plans for our team and LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Daniel as we start up this ministry once again in our community.

The pastors of the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Ukraine (SELCU) continue to bring the good news of Jesus to hundreds this Christmas in their war-torn country, bringing people love, hope, and light.
 
Approximately 6.5 million people in Ukraine have been displaced and are facing freezing winter conditions after being forced to flee their homes. Many take shelter in damaged buildings and have limited access to food, electricity, and heat.

LCC received the following update from Pastor Sergey Bevz in Dnipro.

Unfortunately, the situation has become more difficult. As we expected, there were serious "winter" problems. Russian missiles and drones are attacking Ukraine's critical infrastructure. Therefore, we often do not have electricity, sometimes for several days in a row. Because of this, there may also be no heat, water, communications, and the Internet.
 
Therefore, today, in addition to products, generators, power banks, candles, batteries, various flashlights, and lamps also fell into the category of critical items.
 
However, we continue to serve the people. As before, every Sunday in our building is the issuance of assistance to needy residents and refugees who live in our city. People receive food and essentials.
 
Also, once a week, we make humanitarian trips to the de-occupied territories of the Kherson region. We carry food packages, medicines, candles, and batteries. We are also collecting warm clothes as much as possible. Russian soldiers, during the occupation, took away many warm things from them - jackets, blankets, sweaters, and much more. People in these places have not had electricity for the last 8-10 months. They also lack gas, often water, and communications. Of course, the physical, spiritual, and emotional state of these people is often very difficult.

At this time and in this context, we experience the period of Advent and Christmas in a very different way. Now we think about how our Savior came to a hostile world about 2,000 years ago. We are especially comforted by the fact that the Lord personally knew the state of this world, personally knew human cruelty and militancy.
 
But at the same time, Christmas reminds us that we are not left alone. We are not abandoned by our Lord. We are not left without His protection. His name is Emmanuel, and God is with us. He came to be with us and be our Savior. We rejoice that He achieved His purpose. We are glad that He has "de-occupied" our hearts and souls for His Kingdom. The Lord is with us, and this gives us firm hope!
 
Therefore, please accept Merry Christmas greetings from me and the Lutheran Church "Living Water" in the city of Dnipro!
 
Thank you for continuing to support Ukraine and those affected by the war! May the Lord richly bless you and strengthen you in faith!
 
Regards,
Sergey Bevz

LCC received the following update from Pastor Oleksiy Navrotskyy:

I want to thank you and all partners of Lutheran Church Charities for the incredible work you are accomplishing in my country.
 
Without exaggeration, you and we together have impacted tens of thousands of lives of Ukrainians when they were scared, cold, hopeless, and lonely. Your compassion and generosity have brought hope into the life of so many. God knows the real number of those men, women, kids, and elderly people who were saved from despair and death this year. On behalf of my fellow citizens, church members, and brothers - pastors of SELCU, I thank you for your cooperation in the humanitarian and Gospel mission in Ukraine.
 
Nikolaev Lutheran church (where I serve as a pastor now) is fully packed with new people who hear the Gospel, confess their sins and faith in Christ, and are studying in Confirmation class. It is a real miracle and revival (in the best meaning of this word). God works through His divine Word, growing faith and a new life in so many. You are partners in this labor.

Thank you for your trust and the honor to distribute the resources of LCC in Ukraine. We do it attentively with prayer and consideration.

We hope that this war will come to an end and we will restore our beautiful country. We pray for Lord's guidance and wisdom and for His mercy to us and our countries in 2023.
 
Thank you again for your participation in the mission in Ukraine.
 
Your brother in Christ,
 
Oleksiy Navrotskyy
Nikolaev, Ukraine

LCC received the following update from Pastor Oleg Schewtschenko, who's spending Christmas in Ukraine serving his people, separated from his wife and children (the below picture is from last year).

Dear Friends, brothers, and sisters,
 
What a day! We remember and celebrate the mystery of God becoming flesh! It is a special time to hear the Word of God, a beautiful opportunity to get the whole family together and enjoy the gift of family, love, hope, joy, and faith.
 
As one of the pastors in Ukraine, I treasure this time because so many people will be able to come and hear the meaning of Christmas for the very first time this year! Despite the war and feeling of being empty, powerless, lonely, and even abandoned – what a privilege to come and to bring the life-changing, hope-giving, faith-creating, and strengthen Good News – “For to us a child is born, to us, a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

I would love to use this time to express my deepest thanks for all your work, your prayers for us in Ukraine, and your generous support! As I travel, getting the needed things for people, preaching, or just praying with people, you are always with me!
 
Thank you so much for allowing me and many others to see and experience God's love agape and His care through you!
 
I want to wish you God's blessing. May the Lord be with you and with us.
 
Pastor Oleg Schewtschenko

Please prayerfully consider donating to help Ukrainians by showing the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those who are suffering and in need!

LCC received an update from Sheryl DeWitt, Director of Redeeming Life Outreach Ministries (RLOM), on the progress to open a Christ-Centered Maternity Home for single pregnant women in crisis in East Dundee, Illinois.

Dear Friends in Christ,
 
Greetings to you from Redeeming Life Outreach Ministries in Sanford, Florida, and soon-to-be in East Dundee, Illinois! We pray this email finds you healthy and busy serving our Lord with enough time to rest and be filled up again. We write to you today to provide you with information about our life-affirming maternity home ministry that you can share with those who serve in your locations in Florida, Georgia, and northern Illinois.
 
Our Florida maternity home is nearly at capacity and is home to moms and babies of various ages. Our Florida transition house is home to a hardworking young mom and her young toddler while she continues to pursue self-sufficiency by working, saving, and planning for a career change with the continued support of our deaconess and program.
 
Our Illinois home is in the process of permitting for the remodeling to begin. We are excited to open in 2023 and already hear from pregnancy centers that they have potential residents for us to serve! God has blessed us with a larger staff than ever, as we now have two called deaconesses plus a person to work on marketing and development, bringing our count to eight.
 
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if we can assist you. We pray God’s continued blessings on your corner of God’s Kingdom and on the synod’s amazing efforts to bring the issues of the gift of life into every person’s heart and mind.
 
In His Service,
Sheryl DeWitt, Executive Director

Please prayerfully consider continuing to donate to help Redeeming Life Outreach Ministries welcome single pregnant women in crisis in the new Maternity Home.

LCC received the following note from Tim Richter, Director of Christian Education, Zion Lutheran Church, Fort Myers, Florida.

In partnership with Kathy O'Day from Lutheran Church Charities, Chaplain David Ficken, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Disaster Response, and I went to meet with Deb Mathinos, the director of the Harlem Heights Foundation's Community Center. Harlem Heights is one of the poorest areas in Fort Myers and Lee County. After Hurricane Ian hit, the Heights has been an area of concern due to the extent of damage in the neighborhood and lack of resources to rebuild.
 
The leadership at the community center, who are directly involved with the lives of those who live there, are now distributing the microwaves purchased with LCC donations to those in the most need. After storms like this, there are always so many needs that often go unnoticed, or unmet, and it is vital that organizations like LCC can come in and help fill some of those needs. So thank you so much for your generosity, willingness to help, and Christian hearts devoted to serving those in need. Our area down here is better because of people like you. 
 
Tim Richter
Director of Christian Education
Zion Lutheran Church
Fort Myers, Florida

All LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dogs and their handlers located in California were invited by the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 233 to attend a Farewell Event for California Army National Guard Unit, Company C 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Division on Saturday, January 7th. There was also a Unit from the California Air National Guards from Bay Area.

Aaron (St. John’s - Napa, California)
Genesis (Good Shepherd - Turlock, California)
Micah (Light of the Valley - Elk Grove, California)
Rahab (St. Andrew’s - Stockton, California)
Reuben (First Lutheran - Yuba City, California)

The LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dogs and their veteran handlers greeted approximately 200+ troops and families (around 400 people).

Brigadier General Smiley, the Commander of the California Army National Guard, stopped by and thanked the teams for being there and took a picture with Aaron, Rahab and Reuben. It is always such an honor to thank our troops and their families for their service, especially before a deployment! We told a number of the troops and family members that our churches pray for our military and their families, especially those deployed. These troops were being deployed the next day. Please keep them and their families in your prayers during their 6-9 months of deployment!

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)